Thursday, January 27, 2011

Our children are hungry little readers, soaking up details and information from anything their eyes find to rest on. It has been a delight to leave Nature Friend magazine issues about, knowing there is a feast for the eyes of our young learners and also, for their souls. As our children read through Nature Friend, their thoughts are turned to the Creator of all. And that gives rest and joy to my heart :)

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Outside my Window….blue sky, with hazy clouds over the mountains. A couple of new, as yet undiscovered, bird feeders are hanging from the tree.

From the learning rooms… Bumpy start to the week, children are coming down with colds and not very attentive. Piano lessons went very well though, such beautiful music being made :)

I am thankful for… friendships

From the kitchen… Enchiladas today, but I will be stewing a chicken and making some chicken soup tomorrow, with fresh Butterhorns to chase away those colds that seem to be brewing.

Twirling around needles…Mae is working on finishing her beautiful purple alpaca shawl. I don’t have any projects going at this time.

We're creating...Valentine's were made and Mailboxes were decorated on Saturday

I am reading…Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp, Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair

I am hearing…the tap of pastels being picked up and dropped back into the tray as Petal Rose works on a sketch.

Remembering…This past week’s sermon. And Dave Ramsey on the radio when the alarm went off this morning.

A few plans for the week…To accomplish a productive week of learning, get the house sparkling, pick up Builder from the airport!

One of my favorite things… morning hugs, from sleepy girls.

Pondering… Parents who understand that their children are not simply reacting to the facts, but are interpreting the facts in a way that gives them a particular shape and meaning, will ask good questions and be good listeners. For them, family conversation will take on a whole new meaning and purpose. From Age of Opportunity, chapter 3.

Scripture I am meditating upon…Romans 12:2 Do no be conformed any long to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you will be able to prove the good and perfect will of God.

Scripture Memory work: Colossians 1:3&4 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people.

Sweet Aunt Heather sent us a couple of egifts for Cold Stone Creamery last week ~ and it just happens that Chica and I have about 1 1/2 hours each Friday together while her sisters are in dance and theater classes.

She really didn't know what to think when I told her, "choose anything you want!" It took a few minutes of looking from me to those fancy waffle cones before she found her voice and ordered THAT!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Occasionally I will share our menu plan for the week, with links to some of the recipes we use.
Hopefully you'll find something different & yummy to spice up your menu when you are ready for a little change :)

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The preparations for this party started in Canada, before we moved back home. We bought 2 flat sheets from Walmart, made a simple paper pattern and sewed up tunics as part of the theme.

The day before the party, Petal Rose helped decorate the castle cake.

The whole week before the party, Mae wove floral wreaths for each of us and the guests.

Aren't they beautiful?! Mae and Petal Rose really took part in preparing for this party and for making it a wonderful success!

The little blue monster sitting there on the table served as the dragon for the party. He sat on a trap over a fair puppet maiden and the lovely princess knights fought him blindfolded to rescue their friend.

When the guests arrived, it was early afternoon and everyone was hungry, so we started with our Medieval Feast. There were Roasted Chicken Legs, Cold Fruit, Veggies, Bread & Butter, and a Pink Lemonade.

Each of the girls drew a sword from the stone when they arrived, and recieved their "title". We had Lady Ice of Cream, Lady Sun of Shine, Lady Lolli of Pop, Lady Razzle of Dazzle, Lady Slice of Orange and Lady Roe of Petal. The Ladies made Coat of Arms to pin to thier tunics.

Mae entertained by twisting balloon swords and shields. And we had beautiful time period music playing, that we had found on iTunes.

Chica had a wonderful time, esp being back home and being able to celebrate with some good friends. I am so blessed by this little surprise child and enjoying who she is growing into more everyday. Chica is a fireball of delight!

Mae and Petal Rose really took a large part of the planning and preparing upon themselves. It is exciting to see how able and willing they are to help, and how creatively they can do it!

In the summer we recieved word that the boy we sponsored through Compassion International since 1996 was graduating out of the program. In September we sponsored two new kids! This past week when we prayed for those precious children, I also began asking the Father if we could recieve a letter soon.

And SATURDAY's mail held not one, but two letters! What excitement as we opened them over dinner, read the sweet words and looked at the wonderful drawings.

Dinner was finished quickly and the girls went right to work in writing replies. Well, Mae is writing a reply, Chica and Petal Rose broke out the markers, colored pencils and glitter glue and went to work creating some artlove.

We are excited to be starting this sponsorship adventure again. We've seen 3 kids go through the program and grow up already. I know that this is a wonderful opportunity to share with our 3 girls!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

These three lovely sweethearts of ours have started a "sisters" blog! They will be posting their poetry, stories, thoughts and pictures as a way to share them with their Daddy, who is working away from home for a season.

I am hearing... the water pick as my girls take turns cleaning the orthodonic appliances

I am remembering... several birthdays in this last half of the month

I am creating... lists! That's as creative as I am right now. But Saturday we will be making Valentine's Day cards. Wanna exchange Valentines with some sweet girls?

I am currently reading... The Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp, the book of JOB

From the learning rooms... Today was a good first real day back after our very long break.

I am hoping...that my girls with flipfloppy tummies are not coming down sick!

On my mind... how to get all the pieces running smoothly for each of the girls as we implement a couple of new resources for school.

Noticing that... the daily quiet time sure helps my endurance in the evening.

Pondering these words...If I ...try…people might not.... Yet, I’m really beginning to see that I am unsatisfied and anxious, and I might even become resentful, if I don’t step out and be me. Living a life of “constant self editing” is totally what I tend to do and totally what I am being called to stop doing. http://arock4him.blogspot.com/

And the verses I want to memorize...I am working on the book of Colossians for 2011 AND Genesis 1 by summer break...two big chunks, but I believe in the power of HIS Word. And I want my girls to see THAT!

288. Sweet child who confided her lack of understanding, her thinking she isn’t smart or good enough because…and my remembering to point her to the ONE who made her, fearfully, wonderfully and exactly for HIS purposes of love and glory.

289. A fun car provided by the Service Station while they try to diagnose our van.

GOAL #2 ~ To continue to memorize Scripture with my children using this method. And to also memorize Colossians with the Colossians in a Year facebook group.

GOAL #3 ~ To Read 24 books (2 per month) This seemed to lofty a goal at first, but I really want to make my way through the shelves of good books I've bought for my personal learning pursuits. Now I am finding all kinds of spots in my weekly routine to be able to spend 5 or 10 minutes reading. Sitting at the orthodontist, waiting in the car after Ballet, during our daily quiet time, just for bed. I am excited at the possibilities!

GOAL #4 ~ To get more fit & work consistently with our 2 dogs, to help them learn to be pleasant companions to our famiily. Within this goal I plan to get in cardio exercise 5 times a week at the least. I'll also be swimming 2 mornings a week, and doing yoga 3 mornings a week, but with the dogs I plan to do the weight bearing cardio that is needed several times a week!

Little hopes~ To learn to knit socks! and to make a denim picnic quilt

I don't mean to bore anyone who might wander over to this blog with these details...You all have your own things to keep up with. I am just finding that my blog is a great place to keep those "pieces of paper" and "journal entries" easy to find :)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

I've been reading from The One Year Bible, NLT for the last 11 days, and I so miss MY Bible, so I am going back to MY Bible and using this plan. Amazing little pieces of God's character are jumping out at me each morning and I want to be able to take notes along those passages, adding to the journaling I've done with my Father over the years.

Yes, I do keep a journal, but there is something different about the notes I write in my Bible ~ that keep those quiet conversations with my PAPA fresh in my mind whenever I open those passages back up.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

One of my goals this year is to do a little reading for myself, apart from all the reading we do for educating the kids :) I am going through all the books on my shelf that I bought and hoped to get to someday, and putting them on a doable list for 2011! I am also joining in the discussions over at Life As Mom, for just a little more "mother culture" throughout the year.

The bags were a bit different this year. We have just moved back "home" from a year in Canada, and I have been struggling with keeping up, and planning for Christmas, this NYE party, the next term in school...

But one bag contained the KNex kits for the girls to build with Builder when he is home on rotation. These kits fit perfectly with our readings from Archimedes & the Door of Science.

Of course there was the bag with pizza ingredients.

One great idea from this year, to let the girls start planning some of the party. Mae planned this hour...

and it was a HIT!

So this post isn't near as organized nor informative as two years ago, but I hope you get an idea of the fun we did have together has we celebrated a new year, a wonderful "last year" and also, 16 years!